The Assembly has voted by 16 votes to two to repeal the Interim Administration’s 2012 Value Added Tax Ordinance following an eight-hour debate in the House today. However, that may not be the end of VAT in the TCI.
Local leaders on Friday have been accused of ‘misleading political theatrics’ by the Governor’s appointed representative in the Assembly, the Honorable Lillian Misick. She says they should know very well that the Ordinance cannot be repealed under the Constitution as it stands without the agreement of the Secretary of State and Governor….acting on behalf the British Government. Here’s Chris Jarrett with more on this.
According to research by Radio Turks and Caicos, a Repeal Bill does not become law until the Governor has assented to it – and the Secretary of State has signified Her Majesty’s assent. This assent has to be proclaimed in the Gazette. In layman’s terms, the Governor can refuse to give assent to the repeal of the Ordinance if he regards it to be inconsistent with the Constitution, or inconsistent with the Statement of Governance Principles. The Governor must also decide whether it would affect the integrity or independence of the public service, the administration of justice or any institution protecting good governance. Section ‘f’ of the Constitution Order reads that unless the Governor has been authorized by a Secretary of State he cannot regulate the privileges, immunities or powers of the Assembly or its members. So is Lillian Misick correct? Has today been a moment of history – or has it been just pure theatre?
Join Lynette Thomas on Monday February 4th, 2013 at 7am for a sit down interview with the Speaker of the House, the Honorable Robert Hall.
This is Chris Jarrett reporting for RTC News
